Six Rules for Brand Revitalization†

McDonald's Did It, and You Can Too

Advertising Age, June 29, 2009 — Brands do not die natural deaths. However, brands can be murdered through mismanagement. Some brands are beyond hope — but others can be revitalized.

Of course, it's not easy. But it is well worth the effort.

Unilever, Walmart, P&G Buck the Short-Term Trend†

As Recession Forces Cuts, Leaders Build for Future With Marketing, R&D

Advertising Age, June 29, 2009 — It's been said over and over: There's no time like recession, when competitors are retreating, to ramp up innovation and marketing to grab share.

So far, the competitors have done their part. U.S. trademark applications through mid-June were down 17% from a year ago; patent application growth stalled last year after more than a decade of high single-digit annual growth; and ad spending plunged 14% last quarter, according to TNS Media Research.

The intrepid share-grabbers have been harder to find. Now, however, as the dust settles from the fourth-quarter financial collapse, a growing number of them appear to be sticking their heads out of the bunkers to lay the groundwork for long-term growth in a short-term-obsessed world.

Interpublic, Microsoft Team To 'Re-Invent' Media Planning, Buying: MOMS Is Not Your Father's Process

MediaPost Publications, June 23, 2009 — One of the hottest areas of the online advertising business - "ad ops," a short-hand for advertising operations, or the technology that is driving machine-based advertising and media-buying processing - could soon begin impacting the planning and buying process for all media. Interpublic, in partnership with Microsoft, this morning unveiled a new, tech-driven platform for managing the way media is planned, bought, measured and posted not just for online media, but for all forms of traditional and emerging media. The system, dubbed MOMS (Media Operations Management System), was unveiled this morning at the Cannes advertising festival in France, the companies boasted it would "re-invent" the way Interpublic agencies and clients plan and buy their media.

Brands left to ponder price of loyalty†

Financial Times, June 21, 2009 — Big brands’ best customers have been defecting in droves since the beginning of the US recession, according to a study. By this year, more than half of a typical US brand’s most loyal shoppers in 2007 had switched to rival products.

Why CMO Role Is Not as Important as You Think†

Study of Fortune 1,000 Finds Post's Authority Is Limited at Most Companies

Advertising Age, June 18, 2009 — As if average 28-month tenures weren't enough of a disincentive for marketers to seek the chief marketing officer hot-seat, a recent assessment of SEC filings of Fortune 1,000 companies suggests that the post remains low on the priority list at many organizations, and CMOs' authority remains limited.

Recession Lesson: Throw Out Your Old Algorithms†

Q&A With John Wallis, Global Head of Marketing and Brand Strategy, Hyatt

Advertising Age, June 15, 2009 — After 28 years at Hyatt, John Wallis was named head of marketing at the hotel chain in November of last year. Resigned not to let the recession limit Hyatt's marketing activity, he launched a massive marketing effort. The campaign, which is intended to introduce its redesigned loyalty program, awards three winners — one from North America, Europe and Asia — of an essay contest 365 free nights at any Hyatt hotel worldwide; another 30,000 people will win one free night. More than 87,000 people, 79% of which were customers, entered an essay.

A Cheap Date, With Child Care by Ikea

New York Times, June 11, 2009 — IKEA’S inexpensive, contemporary furniture has attracted frugal shoppers for years, but a different kind of bargain is luring deal hunters to the Swedish retailer as the economy struggles to recover. And this offer doesn’t even require you to use an Allen wrench.

Over-stretched, money-conscious parents are using the store’s supervised play area as their personal baby-sitting service.

What Danica Patrick Could Do for Nascar, Sponsors†

Observers Say Marketers Could Pump $50 Million to Be Close to Popular Driver

Advertising Age, June 9, 2009 — Nascar might just have an answer to the soft economy that's hurting TV ratings, live attendance, and sponsor recruitment: Danica Patrick.Arguably one of the best-known drivers in the world — despite having won just one race — Ms. Patrick is allowed to begin negotiations this week on a new contract with IndyCar team owners, and the racing rumor mill is churning that she is seriously contemplating a switch from open-wheel to stock-car racing in Nascar.

Why Walmart Is Getting Serious About Marketing†

Giant Attributes Success to Segmentation, Market Research and Advertising

Advertising Age, June 8, 2009 — It's marketing's time at Walmart.

It's easy to become complacent when you are a $401 billion company whose shareholder meeting gets teen idol Miley Cyrus out of bed before 8 a.m. to perform for more than 15,000 employees as a warm-up act for American Idol Kris Allen. But Walmart executives know that if the recession abates, they will face a challenge holding onto shoppers who've been introduced, or reintroduced, to the retailer as they've traded down to save money.

Target Offers Taste of DailyCandy†

Retailer's Site Will Feature Product Picks, Articles From Newsletter's Editors

Wall Street Journal, June 2, 2009 — Target has its bull's-eye on a new venture: online media.

On Tuesday, the retailer plans to formally announce a partnership with DailyCandy.com, the email newsletter and Web site owned by cable operator Comcast that covers fashion and culture for a mostly female audience.

The venture, called Red Hot Shop, will be a special section of Target.com that will feature products from up-and-coming designers selected by DailyCandy editors, along with articles and artwork by the DailyCandy team. It is part of a broader ad deal in which Target is paying to advertise with DailyCandy; neither side would disclose the value of the deal.